Drug abuse is a serious problem which the government should solve. Texas is a state with particularly strict laws regarding controlled substances and narcotics. However, the state’s laws are so complicated that the average person may find them challenging to understand or interpret, even though they are explained in the Texas Health and Safety 481.002(5). It includes thousands of compounds and substances, and the list is so exhaustive that I will say that nobody wants to memorize them. Additionally, Texas Health and Safety 481.102 states that a controlled substance is any substance found in Penalty Groups 1-4 as listed. I believe that citizens who use drugs do not carry a copy of them and check them when they attempt to use drugs. Even though Texas drug laws are strict, the rates of drug overdose deaths have been increasing. In 2017, 2,989 people died due to a drug overdose. This number is about 1.5 times higher since 2005. Furthermore, prescription drugs represent a large number of substance abuse cases and are also responsible for a large number of deaths in Texas. The Dallas Morning News stated that “In 2013, only 622 deaths in Texas were specifically blamed on opioids, mostly painkillers, according to the health services department. But the newspapers tallied 798 prescription-drug related deaths recorded by local medical examiners that year in just 17 of the state’s 254 counties”. The attitude toward prescribing varies dramatically from doctor to doctor. U.S. government has set affordable health care for individuals, families, and small business owners, so people living with substance use disorders can get special insurance now. Also, there is a law called "Good Samaritan" which legally protects people who help people that are overdosing. Also, it makes more medication-assisted treatment options available for doctors and patients.
It is clear that the government should inform about Good Samaritan to doctors and people in order to prevent people from abusing drugs before they end up needing special care. Texas government must reconsider prescribed medication laws and warn American citizen about the harmfulness of prescription drugs. Also, they ought to make other controlled drugs lists and penalty lists which people can understand well. It inevitably takes time, but hopefully, the drug abuser population will decrease shortly.
After reading some of my classmates’ blogs, I have found that Mai’s blog on April 5, 2019, is interesting. The post is about the drug abuse problem which needs the attention of the Texas government. Her blog actually informed me about the drug abuse problem in our state which I have not known much about before. Generally, I agree with Mai’s opinions on this issue because of her well-organized and persuasive complementary.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Mai started her argument by opposing to the complicated law of Texas about the control of substances and narcotics. Following that, she gave readers the prove how hard for average citizens to understand and remember the state law to avoid drug abuse. Moreover, she pointed out that people who are affected by drug abuse in Texas is increasing. At this point, if Mai can give the readers the source of the data for the high rates of death because of the drug overdose and prescription drugs, her argument will be more persuasive. Through this point, we can figure out that the state laws do not work well to solve the drug abuse to improve the health of Texans. Later, Mai mentioned about “Good Samaritan” which is really helpful that should be more informed to Texans. Thanks to this post, I have been informed about this law.
In the article's conclusion, Mai convinced me with her suggestions of how Texas government should do to help the drug abuse population decrease. I agree with Mai that Texas government will take a long time to reconsider the laws, but hopefully, they will do to make Texans healthier. In overall, Mai’s argument is persuasive with the organized and supporting details. I think Mai wrote an excellent commentary about the drug abuse issue which is essential to Texans.
After reading Mai's blog, it has really opened my views on drug abuse. In the blog, it brings up how misinformed people really are about what a controlled substance really is. Personally, i agree with this statement. I do not believe the average person knows every single controlled substance there is lingering. Most of these controlled substances lingering are prescribed drugs. Mai highlights the increasing drug problem that is slowly making its way to the surface. Toward the end of her post she brings up that the "Good Samaritan" law should be implemented in doctors offices.
ReplyDeleteMai proves how lengthy and extensive the list of controlled substances are by providing the Texas Health & Safety code. It consists of tons of substances, too long for the average person to remember. She gives the link to a Dallas News story going over how the death count was worse than we thought in 2013. But as for the 2017 data, there is not very much hard evidence.
Ultimately Mai's article persuades me that the government should take action in making sure people are more informed on what a controlled substance is. As well as not making the list so complicated. I also agree that doctors as well as citizens should be informed of the "Good Samaritan" law, this could possibly lead to an alternate path back to health.